Editing Cædwalla (section)

{{Short description|King of Wessex from 685 to 688}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name        = Cædwalla
| image       = Cædwalla in Barnard Chichester mural (full body).jpg
| caption     = Imaginary depiction by [[Lambert Barnard]]
| succession  = [[King of Wessex]]
| reign       = 685–688
| predecessor = [[Centwine of Wessex|Centwine]]
| successor   = [[Ine of Wessex|Ine]]
| spouse      = Cynethryth
| birth_date  = c. 659
| death_date  = 20 April {{Death year and age|689|659}}, Rome, Italy
| father      = [[Coenberht]]
| house       = [[House of Wessex|Wessex]]
}}

'''Cædwalla''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|d|ˌ|w|ɔː|l|ə}}; {{c.}} 659 – 20 April 689) was the [[King of Wessex]] from approximately 685 until he [[Abdication|abdicated]] in 688. His name is derived from the Welsh [[Cadwallon (disambiguation)|Cadwallon]]. He was exiled from Wessex as a youth and during this period gathered forces and attacked the [[South Saxons]], killing their king, [[Æthelwealh]], in what is now [[Sussex]]. Cædwalla was unable to hold the South Saxon territory, however, and was driven out by Æthelwealh's [[ealdorman|ealdormen]]. In either 685 or 686, he became King of Wessex. He may have been involved in suppressing rival dynasties at this time, as an early source records that Wessex was ruled by [[Ecgberht, King of Wessex#Subregulus|underkings]] until Cædwalla.

After his accession, Cædwalla returned to Sussex and won the territory again. He also conquered the [[Isle of Wight]], gained control of [[Surrey]] and the [[kingdom of Kent]], and in 686 he installed his brother [[Mul of Kent|Mul]] as king of Kent. Mul was burned in a Kentish revolt a year later, and Cædwalla returned, possibly ruling Kent directly for a period.

Cædwalla was wounded during the conquest of the Isle of Wight, and perhaps for this reason he abdicated in 688 to travel to Rome for [[baptism]]. He reached Rome in April 689 and was baptised by [[Pope Sergius I]] on the Saturday before [[Easter]], dying ten days later on 20 April 689. He was succeeded by [[Ine of Wessex|Ine]].